Adipose: Cell Types Composing the Tissue

Adipose tissue is a loose connective tissue with the primary function of storing lipids that can be harvested for energy. This function is performed by adipocytes, which comprise the vast majority of cells in adipose tissue. However, multiple other cell types can be found in adipose tissue; these cells are grouped under the category of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). Cells of the SVF include preadipocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and immune cells such as anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages and T regulatory cells. An understanding of the cell types in adipose tissue is crucial for many relevant clinical applications, such as approaches to dealing with obesity and also potential therapeutic uses of adipose stem cells for various ...